Anti-theft device

ABSTRACT

An anti-theft device comprising a main body ( 10 ) ; a circuit ( 20 ) at least partly housed in said main body ( 10 ) and designed to receive a request signal ( 100 ) and generate a corresponding response signal ( 110 ); an elongated element ( 30 ) attach to said main body ( 10 ) and extending at least partly externally of the main body ( 10 ) itself to define an annular structure ( 30   a ) suitable for engagement with a product ( 2 ) to be monitored. The elongated element ( 30 ) is part of said circuit ( 20 ). Also disclosed is a process for producing said device ( 1 ) and a goods-monitoring system, in particular a safety system, incorporating said device ( 1 ).

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device.

The present invention also relates to a process for producing such ananti-theft device, as well as to a goods-monitoring system, inparticular a safety system, incorporating such a device.

It is known that currently used for the goods to be put on the market,and in particular for jewellery articles, are data plates which have adual purpose, i.e. reproducing the brand name, model, price and possibleother description data of the goods with which said plates areassociated, and preventing said goods from being stolen or in any caseremoved in an illegal and uncontrolled manner from the area where theymust stay.

The anti-theft action or shoplifting-preventing action is obtained dueto a circuit housed within the plate; this circuit generally comprises amemory in which an identification code of the goods or products iscontained, a transmission module to generate a signal incorporating atleast said identification code, and an antenna for transmission of saidsignal.

As far as the goods and related plates are in a predetermined suitablymonitored area, the circuit talks to the monitoring system at apredetermined frequency so that the monitoring system will have acontinuous confirmation of the presence of the goods in thepredetermined area. When the system does no longer detect the presenceof the plate (and therefore presumably of the goods associatedtherewith), it generates a suitable signal to keep trace of thisabsence.

If a subsequent registration of a sale operation corresponds to theabsence of the plate and the goods associated therewith, the controlactivity of the system will be terminated. If, on the contrary, no saleoperation corresponds to the absence of the plate, the system generatesan alarm signal to warn about an anomalous situation.

Typically, a data plate of known type is secured to the respectiveproduct through gluing, sewing, or by means of a String introduced intoa through cavity, elongated hole, or annular structure of the product.We will mention, by way of example, rings or watches into which saidstring can be introduced for mutual engagement with the respectiveplate.

However, it is apparent that the systems of known type such as thosedescribed above can be easily eluded through separation of the platefrom the respective product, leaving the plate in a suitable positionwithin the monitored area. In this way, the system will not be able todetect the absence of the product, exactly because the correspondingplate or label is in the pre-established place, so that no anomaly canbe found.

In particular, in the case of plates in engagement with the goodsthrough a string, it can be very easy and quick to tear or cut off saidstring, thus stealing the product without the monitoring system becomingaware of the fact.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to make availablean anti-theft device that can be engaged to the respective goods in amore reliable manner.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device enabling safermonitoring and control processes to be carried into effect, as comparedwith those made available by the known art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of simpleconstruction structure and limited manufacturing costs, whichsubstantially has the same bulkiness as known devices while offering agreater reliability.

The foregoing and still further objects are substantially achieved by ananti-theft device in accordance with the features recited in theappended claims.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from thedetailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of adevice in accordance with the invention.

This description is taken hereinafter with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a device in accordance with the inventionin its use conditions;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a possible embodiment of the device seenin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a circuit being part of the device seen inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system in which the device seen in FIG. 1is used.

With reference to the drawings, an anti-theft device in accordance withthe present invention has been generally identified with referencenumeral 1.

Device 1 (FIGS. 1-3) first of all comprises a main body 10. Said mainbody 10 can be made of plastic material, paper or paperboard material,etc., for example; generally the main body 10 can be manufactured usingany material suitable for obtaining a data plate or label to be engagedto a product 2 that must be kept under control.

The main body 10 can be substantially shaped like a parallelepiped or aprism; it can also have a plate-like conformation.

Preferably inscriptions indicating the brand name, price, and possiblyother important information concerning the product 2 are positioned onone or more surfaces of the main body 10.

Device 1 further comprises a circuit 20 at least partly housed in themain body 10.

Circuit 20 is designed to receive a request signal 100 and to generate acorresponding response signal 110.

The request signal 100 preferably defines an electromagnetic field inwhich the device 1 and product 2 associated therewith are underconditions of normal use.

In FIG. 1, the product 2 associated with device 1 is by way of example,a watch; clearly the device 1 in accordance with the invention can beattached to any goods provided with a through cavity, an elongated hole,or a generic annular structure suitable for linking with the annularstructure 30 a of the device 1 itself (to be described in thefollowing).

With reference to FIG. 4, denoted at A is the area that is monitored andin which therefore propagation of the request signal 100 takes place.

The electromagnetic field generated by the request signal 100 carriesout powering of circuit 20 which is activated and consequently generatesthe response signal 110.

Circuit 20 can be made as a TAG ISO for example, operating at 13.56 MHz,or as a TAG UHF; the latter can be in particular very useful in case ofvery remote readings.

Preferably, circuit 20 is provided with a transmission module 21 togenerate the response signal 110.

Preferably, circuit 20 further comprises a memory 22 to contain anidentification code ID univocally associated with the product 2. Inother words, associated with the product 2 is an identification code IDenabling the same to be recognised even among a plurality of quiteidentical products; this identification code ID is stored in the memory22 of circuit 20.

In the preferred embodiment, memory 22 is operatively associated withthe transmission module 21 to incorporate the identification code IDinto the response signal 110. In this manner, since the monitoringsystem (to be described in the following) recognises the differentidentification codes of the devices present in area A, it always knowswhether these devices are present and therefore can detect the absenceof one or more of same, which presumably also involves the absence ofthe goods associated therewith.

Device 1 further comprises an elongated element 30 attached to the mainbody 10 and extending at least partly at the outside of the main body 10itself. The elongated element 30 in co-operation with the main body 10defines a closed annular structure 30 a suitable for engagement with theproduct 2 associated with device 1. In this manner device 1 can remainattached to the respective product 2.

The elongated element 30 has a first and a second ends 31, 32; said endsare secured to the main body 10. Preferably at least one of the two ends31, 32 of the elongated element 30 is secured to the main body 10 in aremovable manner; in this way the step of attaching device 1 to theproduct 2 is facilitated.

In addition, when use of the device 1 is over, the same Can be detachedfrom the product 2 and reused for another product, possibly updating theidentification code contained in memory 22. In particular, both ends 31,32 can be removably engaged to the main body 10.

FIG. 2 shows by way of example, the device 1 in which the second end 32of the elongated element 30 is disengaged from the main body 10.

To be noted at said second end 32 is a suitable connector 32 a adaptedto be inserted into a respective seat (not shown) of the main body 10 sothat it will be secured thereto.

For mutual engagement of device 1 and product 2, before at least one ofthe ends 31, 32 is secured to the main body 10, the elongated element 30is inserted into a through cavity or elongated hole or annular structureof the product 2.

Subsequently, the end that was not yet in engagement with the main body10 is secured to said main body 10 so that device 1 is attached to theproduct 2 in the same manner as two consecutive links of a chain.

The elongated element 30 is part of circuit 20. This means that theelongated element 30 is directly or indirectly connected to the othercomponents of circuit 20 to enable correct operation of same.

Practically the elongated element 30 can be an electrically conductivewire, in, engagement with the main body 10 and electrically connected tothe other circuit elements. In more detail the above mentioned ends 31,32 of the elongated element 30 in addition to being mechanically linkedto the main body 10, are also electrically connected to the remainingpart of circuit 20, so as to “close” the circuit 20 itself and enableoperation of same when suitably powered.

In the preferred embodiment the elongated element 30 is an antenna 30 bof circuit 20. By means of the antenna 30 b, circuit 20 through therequest signal 100 receives the energy necessary to feed thetransmission module 21 for generation of the response signal 110.

Preferably the antenna 30 b is also used for transmission of theresponse signal 110.

The length of the elongated element 30 will be such defined as to enablethe latter to interact with the request signal 100 at the frequency ofsaid request signal and preferably to transmit the response signal 110at the desired frequency.

Should an individual try to steal the product removing it from thepredetermined area A, two opportunities would arise:

he/she could simultaneously remove the product 2 and device 1 tryingthen to go away, but the absence of device 1 would be noticed becausethe system would not receive the corresponding response signal 110 anylonger;

he/she could detach device 1 from the product 2 and try to move awaycarrying the product 2 alone with himself/herself; however, forseparating device 1 from the product 2 it would be necessary to breakthe elongated element 30 thus inhibiting correct operation of circuit 20that can no longer generate the response signal 100. Therefore in thiscase too generation of the response signal 110 will be stopped and thesystem will be able to detect the anomalous situation.

System 3 (FIG. 4) in which device 1 operates preferably comprises ageneration module 200 for generating the request signal 100 that issuitably addressed to the predetermined area A where the product 2 ispositioned and from which said product 2 cannot be removed withoutauthorisation.

System 3 will comprise one or more anti-theft devices 1 like the onedescribed above; each device 1 is connected to a respective product 2 tobe monitored. Each device 1, as already described, is designed togenerate a response signal 110 following reception of the request signal100.

System 3 further comprises a reception module 210 to detect the responsesignal/s 110 generated by said one or more anti-theft devices 1.

System 3 also comprises a control unit 220 operatively associated withat least the reception module 210 and preferably also with thegeneration module 200 to control reception of the response signals 110.

Should one or more response signals 110 not be received by the receptionmodule 220 within a predetermined time interval, the control module willgenerate a notification signal 120.

The notification signal 120 can be addressed to a local receiver,positioned within the shop where area A is defined for example, to warnthe shop assistants and/or the concerned staff that an anomaloussituation is taking place.

In addition or alternatively, the notification signal 120 can beaddressed to a remote receiver associated with a processor remotelymanaging the different situations that may occur in area A.

Preferably the notification signal 120 is an alarm signal capable ofinforming the addressee of the information as quickly as possible.

Advantageously, device 1 can also be employed for control of the goodsflow from the manufacturing/production step to the retailing step, untilthe cash desk.

Device 1 further enables variations in the goods in stock or stored inother storage areas to be followed and controlled in real time.

Therefore, the notification signal 120 can also not be an alarm signal,but merely a signal enabling an automated control system to keep traceof the displacements of a given device 1 and the associated product 2.

For accomplishment of device 1 the following steps are required.

First of all the main body 10 and circuit 20 are suitably provided.Circuit 20 is at least partly housed within the main body 10. Theelongated element 30 is therefore in engagement with the main body 10 insuch a manner that it extends at least partly externally of the mainbody 10. In more detail, the ends 31, 32 of the elongated element 30 aresecured to the main body 10. Preferably at least one of the ends 31, 32is linked to the main body 10 in a removable manner. In a preferredembodiment, both ends 31, 32 are engaged to the main body 10 in aremovable manner. In co-operation with the main body 10, the elongatedelement 30 defines said annular structure 30 a. As above specified, theannular structure 30 a is suitable for engagement with the product 2 soas to enable monitoring of the latter.

The invention achieves important advantages.

The device in accordance with the invention in fact can be linked to theproduct associated therewith in a very reliable manner, since themonitoring system due to the device being the object of the invention isput in a condition to immediately detect a possible separation betweenthe device and the product.

In addition, more reliability in the whole control system is achievedsince said system is able to efficiently detect possible theft attemptsor unauthorised displacements.

Other advantages reside in that the device of the invention has a simpleconstruction structure, reduced production costs and the same bulkinessas known devices while offering more reliability than the latter.

1. An anti-theft device comprising: a main body (10); a circuit (20) atleast partly housed in said main body (10) and designed to receive arequest signal (100) and generate a corresponding response signal (110);an elongated element (30) attached to said main body (10) and extendingat least partly externally of the main body (10) itself to define anannular structure (30 a) suitable for engagement with a product (2) tobe monitored, wherein said elongated element (30) is part of saidcircuit (20).
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongatedelement (30) is an antenna (30 b) of said circuit (20).
 3. A device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated element (30) has a first anda second ends (31, 32) secured to said main body (10).
 4. A device asclaimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of said ends (31, 32) issecured to said main body (10) in a removable manner.
 5. A device asclaimed in claim 4, wherein both said ends (31, 32) are secured to saidmain body (10) in a removable manner.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said circuit (20) comprises a transmission module (21) forgenerating said response signal (110).
 7. A device as claimed in claim6, wherein said circuit further comprises a memory (22) to contain anidentification code (ID) preferably univocally associated with saidproduct (2).
 8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said memory (22)is operatively associated with said transmission module (21) forincorporating said identification code (ID) into said response signal(110).
 9. (canceled)
 10. A process for attaching an anti-theft device toa product to be monitored, comprising: providing an anti-theft device(1) as claimed in claim 1; introducing said elongated element (30) intoa through cavity, or elongated hole, or annular structure of a product(2) to be monitored.
 11. A process as claimed in claim 10, wherein thestep of introducing said elongated element (30) into said throughcavity, or elongated hole, or annular structure is performed beforesecuring at least one of said ends (31, 32) of said elongated element(30) to said main body (10).
 12. A process for producing an anti-theftdevice, comprising the following steps: providing a main body (10);providing a circuit (20) designed to receive a request signal (100) andgenerate a corresponding response signal (110); housing said circuit(20) at least partly in said main body (10); attaching an elongatedelement (30) to said main body (10) in such a manner that said elongatedelement (30) extends at least partly externally of said main body (10)and defines an annular structure (30 a) suitable for engagement with aproduct (2) to be monitored, said elongated element (30) being part ofsaid circuit (20).
 13. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein saidelongated element (30) is an antenna (30 b) of said circuit (20).
 14. Aprocess as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of attaching saidelongated element (30) to said main body (10) comprises a sub-step ofsecuring a first end and a second end (31, 32) of said elongated element(30) to said main body (10).
 15. A process as claimed in claim 14,wherein at least one of said ends (31, 32) is secured to said main body(10) in a removable manner.
 16. A process as claimed in claim 15,wherein both ends (31, 32) are secured to said main body (10) in aremovable manner.
 17. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein saidcircuit (20) comprises a transmission module (21) for generating saidresponse signal (110).
 18. A process as claimed in claim 17, whereinsaid circuit (20) further comprises a memory (22) designed to contain anidentification code (ID) associated with said product (2) preferablyunivocally.
 19. A process as claimed in claim 18, wherein said memory(22) is operatively associated with said transmission module (21) inorder to incorporate said identification code (ID) in said responsesignal (110).
 20. A monitoring system for goods, in particular a safetysystem, comprising: a generation module (200) for generating a requestsignal (100) addressed to a predetermined area (A); one or moreanti-theft devices (1) as claimed in claim 1, each engaged to arespective product (2) to be monitored and designed to generate saidresponse signal (110) following reception of said request signal (100);a reception module (210) for detecting the response signal/s (110)generated by said one or more anti-theft devices (1); a control unit(220) operatively associated with at least said reception module (210)to control reception of said response signal/s (110) and generate anotification signal (120) if at least one predetermined signal amongsaid response signals (110) is not received within a predetermined timeinterval.